NBC News LINK: Chicago Comics Shows!

  Juneteenth is now a Federal Holiday. Celebrating the word of freedom finally reaching the Slaves in Texas. Ending that system forever! Educators, Curriculum Coordinators, Serious Collectors, and readers will love the books and products being offered starting June 19th at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.

 Its fantastic and unique historic group exhibition, "Chicago Comics: 1960 until Now!" features an intelligent, well designed, dynamic, and a truly diverse selection of visually charged books and related products that celebrate and explore contributions and creative expressions of Blacks, African Americans, LatinX, LGBTQ, and Asian practicing artists, writers & cartoonists. What a great way to expand positive appreciation and respectful curiosity in students of all levels for these people and cultures that often exist outside of standard curriculum guides and teaching scenarios.

 Did I say "Juneteenth"? What about for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa too. Early gift buying is another way to boost the collections and options for avid or reluctant readers while serving up creative diversity in real time. This historic exhibition runs from Juneteenth until Oct. 13th 2021. Perfect for field trips and educational resourcing. Not to mention great fun and artistic excitement for every one else. See you at the MCA! https://mcachicago.org/.../2021/Chicago-Comics-1960s-To-Now

"This Week of Juneteenth finds me sending much luv to the vital South Side Community Art Center in the historic Bronzeville District of Chicago as it explodes with its 80 Years of Service celebrations week!

This registered, former WPA art facility, National Treasure is where we, ONLI STUDIOS, were fortunate to have launched the growing Black Age of Comics genre / movement in 1993. Now I am honored in having my indie character, "NOG: The Nubian of Greatness", published in 1981, that opened the door to the Black Age, by being featured mural sized at the current amazing group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, called, "Chicago Comics: 1960 until Now!" Curated by Dan Nadel. What a cool timely convergence of creativity, cultures, and commerce."

 

ONLI STUDIOS LLC is offering a Limited Edition Series of signed 11" X 17" prints in conjunction with the original" NOG; The Protector of the Pyramides" being featured on the outer wall of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, during its blockbuster group exhibition, 

"Chicago Comics: 1960 until Now!"

" Having agency is having the right and power to express one's truth and that truth be accepted as truth without the speaker or "truth teller" being in fear, punishment or censorship!"

 "Per all of the trending hype and fluff about 'racial reckoning".......  IE: Post Black, Black Girl Magic, and Black Lives Matters in the visual artworld, I say, "show me the money!"  

This blog post includes samples of the visual artwork I was doing in the 1970s........ in my 20s. I worked for  major clients like Playboy Magazine, MODE Avant Garde and The Katherine Dunham Dancers.  In an era when clients, art directors would routinely drop me as a freelance illustrator once they learned I was actually Black. BOOM! Over. Not because my published work wasn't awesome.  I was even getting fan mail.  But dropped none the less! No civil rights supports. No legal options. Dropped!.  Dumped even!

One Art Director for a Nwe York based publisher tearfully explained to me that he was told that he would loose his high-paying job if he ever brought my name up again.

This was in NY, Paris and Chicago.  A major gallery owner in Chicago, who was making serious bank with the Imagists welcomed my package of samples mailed to her from Paris, with positive enthusiasm.  But when I returned to Chicago to meet her, she screamed I was a fraud!  That no way could I.....a boot....meaning a Black heterosexual male, be the real artist to have done that amazing art work. Then she had her security folks to escort me out of her gallery. As if I wanted to stay?????

For instance this is a treatment I drew for Palyboy in 1974. This is why God created education, and such. Along with curators.....like Dan Nadel. I went on to be an art therapist and arts educator.  While finding ways to get my Rhythmistic concepts out into the world.

 Now at age 70........I am disappointed at the offerings of the too often lame, sterile, recycled, poorly thought-out protest-art and minor  efforts at being Black, that are now the flavor of the month in the art world.  This being the denial of what Blacks have been doing away from the framework of the mainstream's orthodoxy. 

The usual flow that celebrates suffering and oppression.  

Never the glory and real legacy of Artistic Genius!  Yes I did say Genius! 

 Just try to say that to them.  Hmmm!" Black Male Genius Artist in the house."

So now in my vintage stage to barriers are still there. I get some props that are highly appreciated....then the bigger powers that be......... lay back and decide. No!  Not his Black brilliant Rhythmistic self. 

NOTE: The current group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Curated by Dan Nadel is the real deal showcase that explodes that suppressive orthodoxy, practice and tradition! Exceptional, intelligent and awesome.

By the way, I am still looking for mainstream representation, a lawyer, and agent to assist in optioning my intellectual property based on  industry standards."

  Me and all that is the Rhythmistic ONLI STUDIOS are thrilled and honored to announce that the Museum Store of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, will be carrying limited amounts of our specially autographed, highly collectable Graphic Novel, "Tales From The Rhythmic Zone" during the run of their amazing group exhibition, "Chicago Comics: 1960 until Now!" June 19th / Oct. 13th 2021.

This book features extended, fully colored versions of the first two "NOG" stories, ONLI STUDIOS over-sized Trading Cards, some dope Afrofuturist stories and much more.

 Great honor. Great value!